Mouthpiece for wind instruments



G. MEEOH. MOUTHPIEGE FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS.-

No. 8,449. Patented Oct. 21, 1851.

UNITED STATES PATENT omuon.

CHARLES L. MEECH, OF PRESTON, CONNECTICUT.

MOUTHPIECE FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,449, dated October 21, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. MnnoH, of Preston, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Mouthpiece for Blowing Metallic Musical Instruments, &c., the Bugle, Trumpet, Cornet, PostHorn, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists in making a mouth piece of the form commonly used, with the exception of a flange or rim fitted to the outside of the upper part of the cup, and attaching thereto an artificial embouchure or lips which by blowing against vibrates and sounds the instruments with great ease and effect.

To enable others skilled in the art to make. and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my mouth piece in the usual form with the exception of the outside of the upper part of the cup which is made with an indented flange forming thereby an additional rim outside the rim of the cup, leaving between the two rims a space 0r channel one fourth of an inch in width and depth. I make my embouchure of india rubber or gutta percha one twentieth part of an inch: in thickness and of such diameter as will fit within the outer rim. Across the center of the embouchure I make an incision five eig iths of an inch in length with transverse incisions one fourth of an inch in length at each end of the first incision, the lips thus formed are slightly thinned or beveled at the edges; The outside of the circular piece 7 of rubber is notched in two or more places, which notches fit to projections within the outer rim of the cup and thus prevents the embouchure from turning. I secure the embouchure by an open cap which shuts over the outer rim with a cover edge leaving an opening slightly oblong and covering about one half the space between the two rims. This cap is secured by rivet heads upon the outer rim of the mouth piece which enter corresponding incisions cut at a right angle through the rim of the cap, within the cup one sixteenth of an inch from the rim and projecting inward and slightly upward one sixth of an inch is the point of a small screw slightly flattened which is turned from the outside through a hole made in the flange for that purpose. In playing this screw is directly beneath the lower lip of the player which presses the embouchure upon it and sounds the high notes of the instrument more readily. This artificial embouchure vibrates more easily than the human lip; fills the instrument more perfectly, and does not fatigue the lungs or labial muscles.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A mouth piece with an artificial embouchure or lips attached to it using for that purpose any elastic and water proof material which will produce the intended eifect.

CHARLES L. MEECI-I.

I/Vitnesses:

WVM. H. PRENTICE, HENRY HEISKELL. 

